Device for forming slabs



March 27, 1928. 1,663,805

- G. c. MARTIN DBVICBFOR FORMING SLABS Filed 00tll, 1926 g INVENTOR,

60f aMaI-Ziru BY ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES GEORGE C. MARTIN, OF LOS ANGELES, GALIFORIIIA.

DEVICE FOR FORMING SLABS.

Application filed October 11, 1926. Serial No. 140,812.

This invention relates to devices for forming slabs, such as tile and the like. The invention has for an object the provision of a device of this character which is rapid in performance, economical in operation and generally superior in results obtained.

The present device considered as an entirety is adapted to form slabs from any selected material, although primarily the invention is arranged for forming concrete slabs-or tile. The device to be described will form a finished tile of greater strength than the usual. form of tile which is molded, and which tile is practically impervious to water. It is of course evident that a resultant product of this character by being less bulky and likewise rapidly-formed, will materially reduce the cost-t0 the consumer of said product.

WVith the above and other objects in view, which objects will appear as the specification proceeds, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown in certain embodiments in the accompanying drawing, described generally, and more particularly pointed out in-claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the device; V 1

Figure 2 is a cross sectional View on the line 2- 2 of Fig; 1, and on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of- Figure 1, and on an enlarged scale from the showing of such figure; and,

Figure 4 is a sideelevation of the packer.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters.

In its broadest aspect the invention includes a device such as a hopper adapted to feed and direct the tile material to suitable dies and which tile material is then acted upon by a packer which closely compresses the tile or slab material, immediately followed by a smoother and a scraper for re moving any excess of such tile material.

The steps that follow would be the generally well-understood steps now in use, such as allowing the tile to cure the required length of time.

In particular the inventionas an entirety is designated by A, of which a is the hopper, b the packer, c the smoother, d the scraper and 6' the members adapted to receive the concrete or other material fed thereto by the hopper, and which die members are carried upon a continuous chain f,all of which elements may be utilized in practicing one embodiment of the invention. Considering first the dies and conveyer therefor, it will be noted that in the present arrangement I have provided a suitable stand or table (1 which has journaled thereto end sprocket wheels 1 and 2 over which is passed the continuous chain 7'. In particular it will be noted upon reference to Figs. 2 and 3 that two of such continuous chains f are provided and that said chains are received between spaced top pieces 3 of'the table g. F urthermore, said chains carry on the periphery thereof spaced lugs 1 and the pans or dies or molds e are placed in each instance between two of said lugs, as indicated and shown best in Figure 1. These dies or molds or pans, as they may be termed may assume any desired configuration, and in the present instance it will be noted upon reference to Figs. 2 and 3 that the periphery of the mold is shaped to form tile having a flat portion 5 with an up-turncd part (3 and with a second portion 7 curved. This form of tile is used extensively in roof construction and the extremity of the curved portion is adapted to overlap the flat portion 5 and the up-turned portion 6. This form of tile is ordinarily known to the trade as pan tile. The hopper has its discharge mouth directly above the periphery of the dies 0 and said hopper is adapted to have placed therein any material desired for the formation of said tile or slabs. If concrete is used then the concrete is placed within the hopper, it being of course realized that the constituent elen' ents of the concrete such as rock or stone, are in a linely divided state. The packer b is detailed in Figs. 2 and 4t. Particularizing, the said packer includcs in the bi-esent instance two packer heads or dies shown at 9 and 10, and of identical construction, and which packer heads are adapted to be secured to a hub member .11, which hub member is mounted upon a shaft 12, the hub being keyed to the shaft so that rotation of the shaft produces rotation of the packer. The periphery of each packer head in transverse section will conform to the periphery of the dies 6. In other words, the peripher of each packer head will have a substantially flat portion 13 followed by a concave portion 14. However, all points on the periphery of said packer heads are not equi-distantly spaced means for moving said conveyer and rotating said packer head whereby any material upon said conveyer will be acted upon by said packer head to compress said material and shape the same,

2. In a device of the character disclosed, a conveyer, a die member thereon, means for feeding material on said die, a packerhead comprising oppositely disposed spiral packer blades formed with a die portion, and means for rotating said packer head and moving said conveyer whereby the packer head acts upon the die material on said die to compress the same.

3. In a device of the character disclosed, a rotary packer head, comprising two oppositely disposed spiral packer blades formed with die portions, and whereby when the packer head is rotated it will act on the substance to be formed to compress the same.

4. In a device of the character disclosed, a hopper, a conveyer in part beneath said hopper, dies carried by said conveyer, said hopper being adapted to hold material to be formed by said dies, a spiral bladed packer head adapted to act upon material carried by the dies to pack and form a surface of said material, a smoother for finishing the surface acted upon by said packer, and means for moving said conveyer and rotating said packer and smoother.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE C. MARTIN. 

